September 11, 2020

Local firm Murphy & Rudolf to volunteer 100 hours with Community Legal Aid

Contact:  Meredith Palmer, Pro Bono Director
Phone: 413.686.9010
Email: mpalmer@cla-ma.org

Community Legal Aid (CLA) Pro Bono is proud to announce an exciting partnership with the Worcester-based law firm of Murphy & Rudolf, LLP.  Made up of eight attorneys specializing in the areas of criminal defense, civil litigation, and family law, Murphy & Rudolf has committed to taking on pro bono (volunteer) cases amounting to 100 hours over the next year. Their generosity to our local community is commendable and encouraging, especially when the pandemic has exacerbated already thin lines of support for our most vulnerable community members.

Partner  Brian Murphy suggested this partnership to CLA because “seeing the challenges our neighbors are facing in light of the pandemic has inspired us to make a commitment to give back to our community.”

Members of the firm have already accepted their first assignments in the areas of family law and will preparation.

CLA Pro Bono is especially grateful to firms like Murphy & Rudolf which have not only responded to the immediate pandemic-related needs of our low-income neighbors, but have also committed to working alongside CLA for the next twelve months.  CLA’s Pro Bono team continues to see an increased need for volunteer attorneys in family law cases, especially for survivors of domestic violence, and people seeking assistance in the preparation of wills. However, this is just the beginning.  After the cumulative effects of the pandemic set in, CLA is preparing for an avalanche of bankruptcy, consumer debt, housing, and education law cases.

“The pandemic has hit our Worcester community especially hard, and the legal needs of our low-income neighbors are becoming increasingly dire and complex,” says CLA Pro Bono Director Meredith Palmer. “We are doing everything we can to meet the immediate needs of our clients, as well as preparing for what’s to come. Creating pro bono partnerships is key to ensuring that the legal community adequately responds to the long-term and complicated effects of the pandemic.”

Law firms interested in joining Murphy & Rudolf in making a similar commitment to our community can reach out to Meredith Palmer, CLA Pro Bono Director, mpalmer@cla-ma.org.

To learn more about CLA Pro Bono and available volunteer opportunities, visit https://communitylegal.org/get-involved/pro-bono/.

About Community Legal Aid:

Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to the low-income and elderly residents of the five counties of Western and Central Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester), and maintains full-time offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield. Community Legal Aid works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families. For more information, please visit www.communitylegal.org.